JOINT DECLARATION ON RELATIONS
BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
AND THE REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA

At their meeting at the White House, President of the United
States Bill Clinton and Georgian Parliament Chairman Eduard
Shevardnadze agreed on the need to accelerate the building of
close and mutually beneficial relations on all levels between the
United States of America and the Republic of Georgia.

The United States was the first country in which a Georgian
Embassy was established after independence. This official visit
by Chairman Shevardnadze marks an important further step
demonstrating the significance which the United States and the
Republic of Georgia attach to broadening and deepening their
relationship.

The United States recognizes that the Republic of Georgia
faces new challenges in ensuring its national security and is
ready to work closely with Georgia to assist it in finding ways
to meet these challenges. The United States and the Republic of
Georgia further expressed their desire to facilitate contact
between appropriate government officials with a view to
broadening defense cooperation and expanding their dialogue on
security issues of mutual interest.

The United States reaffirmed its full support for the
territorial integrity of Georgia and pledged its continued
backing for United Nations efforts to facilitate a peaceful
settlement to the conflict in the Abkhaz region of Georgia.

International security can no longer be achieved through the
efforts of individual states by acquiring ever increasing amounts
of weaponry. Rather, security must be based on reduced levels of
armaments among all nations, and on a multilateral
commitment to uphold shared values, especially democracy, the
inviolability of borders, territorial integrity, and peaceful
resolution of disputes. The United States and the Republic of
Georgia agreed that working together in multilateral institutions
like CSCE and the North Atlantic Cooperation Council is an
important means of promoting these goals and values.

The United States welcomes the announcement that the
Republic of Georgia has decided to move forward on participation
in NATO's Partnership for Peace. The Partnership provides a
framework for enhanced political and operational military
cooperation, including joint planning, training and exercises for
multilateral crisis management activities.

The Republic of Georgia and the United States reaffirm their
commitment to comply fully with the obligations of the Treaty on
Conventional Armed Forces in Europe. The United States stands
ready to provide technical assistance, advice, and expertise to
assist the Republic of Georgia as it continues to meet these
obligations. President Clinton and Chairman Shevardnadze agreed
that the two governments should continue to work together -- and
with other concerned governments -- to explore ways to minimize
the cost of meeting these commitments.

President Clinton and Chairman Shevardnadze agreed that the
independence of the Republic of Georgia and its commitment to
democracy and market economic reform could make an important
contribution to stability in a region of Europe that has known
great tragedy and upheaval. The United States and the Republic
of Georgia underscored their intention to cooperate actively to
achieve this goal. The President and the Chairman agreed to
protect and promote the values that bind together the democratic
community of nations, including free and fair elections, freedom
of emigration, the rule of law, respect for human rights,
including free speech, free press, and respect for the rights of
individuals belonging to minorities. The United States strongly
supported the commitment of the Republic of Georgia to develop in
full accordance with these principles and its efforts to build a
just and stable society where the fundamental freedoms of all
peoples are guaranteed.

The United States and the Republic of Georgia expressed
their determination to advance the values of economic freedom,
without which democracy cannot succeed and prosperity cannot be
attained. The Republic of Georgia reaffirmed its determination
to build a market economy through appropriate macroeconomic
stabilization policies and structural reforms to promote market
development, economic recovery and growth, and to create
conditions attractive to foreign investment, which will
contribute to the restructuring of the Georgian economy. The
United States will assist the Republic of Georgia to promote
economic reform, free trade and foreign investment. Both sides
recognize the importance of improved market access for their
firms, and the need to ensure economic progress and to deepen
economic cooperation.

President Clinton and Chairman Shevardnadze agreed to work
together to remove all unnecessary barriers to bilateral trade
and investment. The President and Chairman signed the U.S.-
Georgian Bilateral Investment Treaty today. They also agreed on
the advisability of completing preparations on a treaty to avoid
double taxation.

The United States reaffirmed its intention to continue
providing assistance to the Republic of Georgia in the areas of
agriculture, food, medicine, fiscal and monetary policy, and
other areas to promote reform in Georgia. The United States
expressed its commitment to continue its assistance to the
Republic of Georgia in meeting the needs of the persons displaced
from the Abkhazia region of Georgia.

The United States and the Republic of Georgia are also ready
to expand their relations in such areas as science, energy,
culture, arts, education, law, sports, tourism, youth exchanges,
and new information technology.

By agreeing to cooperate to advance common political,
economic, and security interests, the United States and the
Republic of Georgia have laid the foundation for a strong and
diversified relationship.